The last hour -
When we think of the last days, we generally think, "Oh, any day now." But when God speaks of the last days, He is speaking in reference to eternity. God is not in any hurry.
A countdown doesn't begin with 10 seconds - it begins long before that. The last time, or last days, simply means that God is in the final stages of his dealings with humanity on this level. The countdown has begun. This life is simply preparation for eternity. God is drawing all things together.
The coming of Jesus into this world was the beginning of the countdown - the beginning of the closing of this chapter of history. God is putting the finishing touches on his redemptive work.
Antichrist -
18. Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
Now, as God's work is all good, the devil stand in direct opposition to God. That is, everything he does is just the opposite of God.
As God emphasizes eternity, the devil emphasizes NOW!
As God emphasizes love, the devil emphasizes self!
As God emphasizes good, the devil emphasizes greed!
Anti means against. Christ means anointed. Antichrist is against God's Anointed (Christ), against the anointing (Holy Spirit), and against those anointed (the church). As God is finishing His work, Satan is trying to sabotage the finished product. And though Satan will be annihilated in the end, his destructive work will bring many down with him. That is his end-time goal.
There are many who work in league with the devil against the church. It is not those outside the church who are our greatest threat. It is those who infiltrate the church - those who mimic the gospel with slight perversions of the truth.
In fact, I will go so far as to say that the greatest damage is done to the cause of Christ, not by the anti-Christians, but by the semi-Christians - those who claim Christianity, but do not fully practice Christ-likeness.
They go out from our midst, but they are not us. They 'represent' us, but they do not 'emulate' us. It is the subtle deceptions that are the greatest danger to the church - not the blatant lies, but the half-truths - not the opposers, but the pretenders who do us the most damage.
How do we protect ourselves?
How do we prevent being deceived?
20. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.
We have an 'unction' - our anointing from God. We have the mind of Christ. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would teach us and reveal things to us and lead us into all truth.
He says here, "you know all things', not because we possess all knowledge, but that the one who is truth is in us, and he has promised to guide us. The source of all knowledge and truth dwells in us.
God has instilled His Spirit in the lives of believers.
In verse 27, he says that we "need not that any man shall teach you", not because we do not need instructors. Indeed, God has provided pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. for the perfecting of the saints. But our need is to allow the Holy Spirit to confirm every teaching - to prove all doctrine and practice.
Do not judge what I, or any other preacher says by how convincing it sounds, but by how Christ-like it proves to be. Judge it by how the Spirit and the Word bear witness to it.
I have heard a lot of stirring messages that were not biblical. I have heard exciting messages that were not 'soul' stirring. They were eloquent but not anointed; filling but not satisfying. (like ice cream and candy.)
After you hear how a man talks, then watch how he walks.
Verse 22 says,
22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son.
Whoever denies Christ is antichrist. There are many who profess him with their words, but deny him with their lives.
We have seen in recent years that some of the most popular preachers have turned out to be less than what they claimed to be. Some, outright imposters.
They know how to talk, but not how to walk. They preached popular doctrine, but not pure doctrine. They preached good feeling theology, but not life fixing theology.
Verse 23 says,
23 No-one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
The key is, you acknowledge with your life, not just your mouth.
Hear me! True, godly, biblical teaching will not appeal to your flesh. Too often, the worldliest preaching gets the loudest Amens.
A gospel that does not require sacrifice is a sack-o-lies.
A salvation that costs you nothing is worth about the same.
A god who gives you the garden and doesn't charge you any rent is not the God of the Bible. In the parables, the landowners always came for his due - the master always exacted from his servants - always held his stewards accountable and expected fruit from his vineyard.
24 See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.
25 And this is what he promised us--even eternal life.
Beware of dogs -
26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.
"Those who try to seduce you�" - not with Satanic offers, but with religious deception - subtle untruths - cute quips that sound biblical but turn out to be powerless promises.
Don't be seduced by subtlety. Rely on the Holy Spirit to teach and confirm, all things to you.
In the last days, Satan will try many last ditch efforts. Abide in Christ. Abide in His Spirit. Study the Word in a prayerful attitude. Prepare your heart before you attend the preaching.
Abide
27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.
28. And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
Abide in Him, that when he appears, we will have confidence. When I stand before judgement, I'll not stand there hoping I got it right. I'm going to stand in full assurance that I sought it with all my heart and settled only for the truth.
I will not be ashamed!
He finishes with what I have been saying here all along -
29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
Those who are truly born of God will do righteousness.
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